Oswego Culinary, Hospitality Teams End Year Strong

If a student-run restaurant opens within District 308, local patrons will be in good hands.

Both and culinary and hospitality management teams fared well in a recent state competition, with OEHS moving on to nationals and taking 30th place. The team was honored at Monday night's School Board meeting. 

These students proudly represented Oswego and the state of Illinois at the competition.  Their task during the contest was to present their restaurant concept “Riverstone” to 10 potential investors through both a verbal and visual presentation, written marketing documentation, a question and answer session and a critical thinking portion where a wide variety of restaurant scenarios were proposed for solutions. Because of the effort and results these students achieved, they have scholarships in excess of $68,000 available to them. 

At state, in the Hospitality Management Team category, Oswego East students Matthew Denor and Gail Baltar took home first place honors. The Oswego High School Management team of Alyssa Allen, Taryn Trenter, Tim Wodzisz, and Catherine DeNeve also had an impressive showing, placing fifth in the state.

The Oswego High School Culinary team of Quyn Gardner, Darhaynee Nunez, Andrae Holliday, and Devan Wollenberg placed fourth in state, followed closely by the fifth place Oswego East High School Culinary team consisting of James Taylor, Brandy McWaine, and Rebecca Abraham.

Teams placing first through third from each competition are awarded scholarships to pursue post-secondary education in food service and restaurant management, as well as cash and prizes.

— Susan Stiker